Senior military officials of China and Switzerland on Wednesday agreed to step up exchanges and cooperation between the two armed forces.

 

"The relations between the two armies have progressed soundly with regular exchanges on health, peacekeeping and other specialized fields," said Liang Guanglie, chief of the General Staff of the People's Liberation Army (PLA), when holding talks with visiting Commander of the Armed Forces of Switzerland Christophe Keckeis.

 

China would like to make joint efforts with Switzerland to push military-to-military ties to a new high, Liang was quoted as citing a statement from the Chinese Defense Ministry.

 

Liang also briefed Keckeis on China's defense policy and military construction.

 

Keckeis said he hoped to promote military exchange and cooperation through his China visit.

 

The Swiss government will maintain the one-China policy, Keckeis said.

 

(Xinhua News Agency July 13, 2006)